'Thank Your Teachers': Education Minister
Jakarta. Millions of students across the country commemorated National Education Day on Monday (02/05), celebrating the achievements of Indonesia's education pioneer Ki Hajar Dewantara.
Education Minister Anies Baswedan called on students to thank their teachers — all of whom have more than earned their Indonesian epithet, "heroes without honors."
"Thank your teachers, tell them you're grateful, show your appreciation to them, these teachers, these education fighters," Anies said during an official ceremony at the education ministry offices in Jakarta.
The minister also called on members of the public to help improve access to education for all Indonesians, especially the poor and those living in remote areas.
Anies is the founder of nongovernmental education initiative Indonesia Mengajar (Indonesia Teaches), which sends volunteer teachers to remote parts of the archipelago.
The minister stressed the importance of moral character as well as academic performance.
"We don't want to have honest-but-lazy students, or diligent-but-deceitful ones," Anies said.
Different Ways to Celebrate
National Education Day was celebrated in many different ways across the country on Monday.
Antara news agency reported that dozens of students in Ambon, Maluku, gave flowers to their teachers just before classes as a show of appreciation for their dedication.
In Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, the local administrator staged a traditional dance competition Pa'gellu for students at the SKB football field. District head Nicodemu Biringkanae also gifted savings accounts to students who had helped out with the activity.
May 2 was the birthday of the national education founding father, Ki Hajar Dewantara, who set up Taman Siswa, the first national education institution, in Yogyakarta in 1922.
Tags: Keywords: